NZFVC Quick Reads: 23 February 2024

NZFVC Quick Reads: 23 February 2024

Welcome to our new Quick Reads format. Each week we share selected news bites relevant to family violence and sexual violence in Aotearoa. This is a new format and we welcome your feedback. Let us know what you think at info@nzfvc.org.nz. See all past NZFVC Quick reads.

Reports from Aotearoa researchers on child protection decisions

The Marsden Funded study, Producing facts: how is big data made? Exploring child protection reporting decisions and older people's health assessments, has published 2 reports and a preprint research article. Part of the study looked at the social processes of data production in child protection in Aotearoa. The publications are: Family and whānau experiences of being reported to Oranga Tamariki (2023); Decisions to report children to Oranga Tamariki by schools in Aotearoa: reasons, processes and outcomes (2023); and, The heuristic divergence between NGO reporters and child protection agencies: Negotiating risk amidst shifting sands (2023). The authors include Emily Keddell, Pauline Norris, Esther Willing, Donna Cormack, and Sarah Colhoun.

New report from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) on children working to help their families

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has recently published a new report, Overloaded and Overlooked: Investigating how poverty drives school students into paid work (2024). The report investigates how poverty-driven student employment in Aotearoa is being monitored and measured, alongside what practical steps are being taken to help children in this situation.

New report from Office of the Auditor General on young people’s unmet mental health needs

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) recently released the report, Meeting the mental health needs of young New Zealanders (2024). This report investigates the difference made for young people by the 33% increase in government spending on mental health and addiction services since 2018. In their official media release, the Auditor General called for coordinated action to meet the needs of young people. VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai welcomed the report and its recommendations in their media release. The Auditor General’s overview of the report, alongside a written and video summary can be found on the Meeting the mental health needs of young New Zealanders webpage.

Reports from Abuse in Care Inquiry

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry publicly released 2 independent research reports. The first report was authored by Max Rashbrooke and Angie Wilkinson and is titled, Cracks in the Dam: The social and economic forces behind the placement of children into care (2019). The second report was authored by Sharon Shalev and is titled, Uses and abuses of solitary confinement of children in State-run institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand (2022).

Salvation Army State of the Nation 2024 report released

The Salvation Army | Te Ope Whakaora has recently released their 2024 State of the Nation report, The Things We Inherit Ngā Tukunga Iho (2024). The report gives an updated national overview of trends and outcomes within several focus areas: children and youth, work and incomes, housing, social hazards, Māori wellbeing, and crime and punishment which includes reporting on family violence. The Salvation Army’s Cultural Advisor, Dr Gina Colvin-Ruwhiu, spoke to Waatea News about the report with a focus on the indicators for Māori wellbeing. The full report, a summary document, and an interactive data dashboard are accessible on the State of the Nation 2024 webpage.